Accidents in the warehouse: Why good visibility is a key safety factor
published on 19. November 2025
More than 15,000 accidents involving industrial trucks every year: this can be prevented!
Speed is of the essence in intralogistics, but the price to pay is high. It is one of the most dynamic areas of industrial value creation, but at the same time it is one of the most accident-prone: according to evaluations by the Institute for Work and Health (IAG Mainz), more than 15,000 work accidents involving industrial trucks are reported in Germany every year. 1,2 The data is based on the latest statistics from the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) and shows a consistently high accident rate over many years.
Scenarios such as people being hit or trapped, vehicles tipping over, or collisions causing injuries when maneuvering in narrow storage areas are common. Professional associations such as BGHM and BG ETEM also point to an increased risk with pedestrian-operated industrial trucks, where foot injuries in particular occur comparatively frequently.
Visibility: a crucial, often underestimated safety factor
Many of these accidents occur because drivers notice people or obstacles too late. Or vice versa: employees do not see approaching vehicles in time. Poor visibility, uneven hall lighting, and unfavorable traffic routes exacerbate the problem.
The prevention work carried out by the employers’ liability insurance associations therefore emphasizes the following:4
- Traffic routes must be clearly visible and adequately lit.
- Industrial trucks may only be operated in areas where hazards due to poor visibility can be ruled out.
- Warning lights and work lights must be selected and mounted in such a way that they are visible but do not cause glare.
Especially in modern logistics environments with high racks, block storage areas, autonomous tugger trains, and heavy foot traffic, coordinated lighting is a central component of the safety concept.
Solutions for better visibility in warehouses
As a long-standing partner to industrial truck manufacturers and operators, we consistently focus our work on safety-related lighting and warning technology. The focus is on the solution, not the individual product.
Our range of services includes:
- Work and driving lights that evenly illuminate traffic routes and rack aisles and minimize blind spots.
- Optical warning lights and signaling systems that clearly indicate directions of movement, curves, and danger spots for pedestrians.
- Consulting and integration: selection of suitable lighting technology, optimal mounting positions, evaluation of real operating conditions.
- Project support from prototype to series production, including sample assemblies and coordination with cabin and vehicle designs.
- Service and availability, for example through delivery schedules, warehousing, or individual branding options (e.g., in-mold labeling for OEMs).
The approach: Visibility and safety go hand in hand; they must be consistently considered if internal transport is to be made safer and more efficient.
Sources
[1] German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV): Workplace accidents in 2024 – Statistics, October 2025 edition.
[2] Institute for Work and Health (IAG) Mainz: “Accident figures for industrial trucks (forklift trucks),” as of 2025.
[3] BG ETEM: “Pedestrian-controlled industrial trucks (MFZ) – Working aid,” as of 08/2022.
[4] DGUV / BAuA: ASR A3.4 – Lighting of workplaces, valid edition 2023.
